Celebrity Chef Stephan Pyles has once again put Dallas on the national culinary map.

He is named as an outstanding chef contender in this year's James Beard Awards contest, the "Oscars of Food."

His new restaurant, Samar by Stephan Pyles in downtown Dallas, is also named as a best new restaurant nominee.

UPDATE: Fellow DFW chef Sharon Hage of York Street is nominated in the Best Chef: Southwest category. Kudos to Hage for her nomination. (and thanks to Tim Rogers and the D Mag clan for reminding us about her nom)